Past Projects & Events
Since our founding, our projects have spanned across arts, advocacy, and education. While our educational project, Desert Voicebox, is our flagship programme at present, our body of work has always been an evolving one.
Since our founding in 2005, Sandblast has worked to promote and showcase the voices, visions and creations of Saharawis through live music and poetry events, art exhibitions, film screenings, multimedia festivals, conferences, and so much more.
The fluidity of our mission has allowed so many wonderful collaborations to take shape, and lead many other artists to become inspired to express their solidarity in partnership with us too.
We have curated a selection of our proudest projects and initiatives from the last 18 years below, and hope you enjoy learning about the memories and masterpieces we’ve made along the way.
Tiris performing at the Sandblast Festival in 2007
Opening Night: Henry Bonsu with Sandblast founder, Danielle Smith
The 2007 Sandblast Festival
The Sandblast Festival was the spark that lead to the long and still-burning flame of Sandblast Arts, making it one of our proudest achievements.
Our founder, Danielle Smith, spearheaded this event’s organization and success in November of 2007. Her dedication, hard work, and the support of her network of peers culminated in a three day celebration of Art and Resistance at the Rich Mix Cultural Center in London.
The festival was studded with trailblazers and international artists, such as filmmaker Ken Loach and Algerian Olympic Medalist Hassiba Boulmerka, We hosted an audience of 2,500 spectators- all coming together to stand in solidarity and celebration with Saharawis.
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Vitoria, Spain (2013)
Sandblast organised a meeting between Saharawi musicians in VItoria (Spain) February 2013. The encounter informed attendees about music empowerment project Studio-Live and accompained by talks about music, poetry and Saharawi culture given by Saharawi figures such as Oum Dleila, Oum Reghia, Ali Mohamed or Ali Salem Iselmu. The event was wrapped up with a historic concert.
2010-2022
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School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, London (2013)
A day-long event looking at the Saharawi situation and other case studies to address human rights through music at SOAS. The conference consisted of talks, film-screenings and debate as part of a conversation about cultural rights and the potential of using music to demand the respect of human rights. Contributors to the day included Ben Mandleson a world musician, manager and producer. All funds raised through donations at this event supported Studio-Live.
This conference was organised by Sandblast in partnership with SOAS MA Music and Development.
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Roundhouse, London (2012)
Sahara Nights was a multi-media multi-artist extravaganza headlined by Aziza Brahim, Luzmira Zerpa, Inua Ellams and more at Roundhouse to commemorate the launch of the Studio-Live project, in partnership with Fairtunes, Lyrix Organix, and more.
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London (2022)
Documenting the life, culture, and traditions of the Saharawi people through photography.
Photos by Danielle Smith and Quintina Valero of daily life, culture, and traditions of the Saharawi people in the gallery space at ActOne Cinema.
Learn more and view a gallery
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Various locations, 2016-2022
Over the years, we have organized a variety of Film Screening events and fundraisers.
Many of these events also included conferences, Q&A sessions, and featured panelists.
Some of the films included:
You Can’t There from Here
Sons of the Clouds
Endless Exile
& more!
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Refugee camps (2011-2016)
Studio Live was a project providing sound engineering training workshops for live and recorded music events to help develop professional skills and build a local music industry in the refugee camps.
Read More & Watch the Release
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Refugee Camps (2016 - 2018)
Supporting the strengthening of Saharawi civil society and encouraging small-scale volunteer initiatives that engage the community to bring about positive change in the cultural, social and environmental lives of the Saharawi refugees.
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100 Years Gallery and Bolivar Hall, London (October 2015-February 2016)
To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Moroccan invasion of Western Sahara in October-November 1975 and the foundation of the Saharawi republic in exile in February 2016, we organised a series of events in London over 4 months.
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Various venues, London (2013)
Featuring artist Aziza Brahim to create a wider appreciation of Saharawi culture and promote Studio-Live, in London, through concerts, films, discussions and workshops.
Read More
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UK, October & November 2007
Saharawi camp-based Tiris band did a 6-stop tour performing at Southbank, Brighton Dome, Musicport festival, and more
2007 - 2010
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Rich Mix, London (2007)
The Sandblast Festival was the spark that lead to the long and still-burning flame of Sandblast Arts, making it one of our proudest achievements.
Our founder, Danielle Smith, spearheaded this event’s organization and success in November of 2007. Her dedication, hard work, and the support of her network of peers culminated in a three day celebration of Art and Resistance at the Rich Mix Cultural Center in London.
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Refugee camps (2008-2010)
Established in 2007 to support creative workshop leaders to visit the camps and lead various skills-training programs on the ground.
This funded projects such as:
Introductory acting & film production classes led by Caravanserai Studio
10-day master workshop for musicians, with Mohamed Hafsi, musician, composer and producer
Two-week long youth theatre workshop led by Olive Branch Theatre. The theatre group, led by our trustee Becky Hall, has returned to the Saharawi refugee camps for further training workshops with youth, disabled and victims of land mines.
One of the greatest achievements were two 3-week workshops in crafts design from discarded plastic bottles, by Florie Salnot, Royal College of Arts, which resulted in the design project Plastic Gold. Shortlisted for the Jameel Prize 2013, Plastic Gold was exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London) from Dec 11, 2013 until April 21, 2014